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Title: Closed Post by: atomium on January 24, 2013, 09:06:40 PM Closed
Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: Monster Tent on January 24, 2013, 10:07:50 PM Hope its better than the excruciatingly embarrassing ones of the past.
Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: atomium on January 24, 2013, 10:19:30 PM this will be the first real one is the US right?
Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: smoothie on January 25, 2013, 05:37:46 AM $300 entry fee to go to a conference?
I rather wait for any videos that pop up on youtube that are taken at the conference. Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: The Fool on January 25, 2013, 07:06:34 AM $300 entry fee to go to a conference? This smells like elitism. Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: The Fool on January 25, 2013, 07:23:36 AM $300 entry fee to go to a conference? This smells like elitism. This is a pretty normal fee. If you're organizing a conference, you're lucky if the registration fees you collect as well as the vendor sponsorships are enough to pay the venue's 5 or 6 figure bill when it's all over. It's also not outrageous when you consider that the average person is already paying $500-$1500 to get there when you consider airfare, ground transportation, and hotel. If the conference were held in a public park, it wouldn't be $300, but it would also be so stupid as to not be worth traveling to, and the media would show up to laugh at us. The only way to call it elitism is to be oblivious to the economics of organizing a conference. It's totally normal for a conference venue to charge, oh, $25 a plate for every plate taken at a buffet line, or $5 for every soda taken from the courtesy table at the back of the room. Not kidding! That's how the hospitality industry works. The food is served as though it's free but it's totally not. The fee literally covers the cost of the venue. BTW, I just bought my ticket. I'll be driving out. In my Porsche with "Bitcoin" vanity license plate. Because I'm elitist like that and all. I just thought Bitcoin had a grassroots-esque and "open to all people" type of thing going for it. I thought a conference would be a no-frills and "let's just get together and discuss Bitcoin". This however has an industrial vibe going for it. It doesn't seem open to the low-income, volunteer open-source developer. If the Bitcoin Foundation wants a "Macworld" for Bitcoin, I guess that's okay. Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: smoothie on January 25, 2013, 07:29:44 AM $300 entry fee to go to a conference? This smells like elitism. This is a pretty normal fee. If you're organizing a conference, you're lucky if the registration fees you collect as well as the vendor sponsorships are enough to pay the venue's 5 or 6 figure bill when it's all over. It's also not outrageous when you consider that the average person is already paying $500-$1500 to get there when you consider airfare, ground transportation, and hotel. If the conference were held in a public park, it wouldn't be $300, but it would also be so stupid as to not be worth traveling to, and the media would show up to laugh at us. The only way to call it elitism is to be oblivious to the economics of organizing a conference. It's totally normal for a conference venue to charge, oh, $25 a plate for every plate taken at a buffet line, or $5 for every soda taken from the courtesy table at the back of the room. Not kidding! That's how the hospitality industry works. The food is served as though it's free but it's totally not. The fee literally covers the cost of the venue. BTW, I just bought my ticket. I'll be driving out. In my Porsche with "Bitcoin" vanity license plate. Because I'm elitist like that and all. The SAME material covered at these conferences can be found in: 1. this forum (free) 2. Bitcoin Magazine ($8.88...wow) 3. Google (free) 4. Youtube videos (if we're lucky...also Free) There really isn't a point to pay for a total of $1500-$2500 for a 2.5 day conference just to get the same material you could with options 1, 2, and 3 listed above. Right the next point would be networking right? Well you can easily do that on this forum alone or on the internet, skype, facebook, youtube, twitter, etc, etc, etc. So should people pay $8.88 at most or pay a few thousand dollars to get the same material? Sounds like a waste of time and money as mentioned earlier in this thread. You people who plan to go and are organizing this conference are better using that money to further bitcoin, not have fancy conferences where you basically tout your LEET skillz in making tonz of moneyz. Bottom line, people are better off keeping their finances and conserving than attending a bitcoin conference. Just my 0.02 btc Smoothie ;D ;D ;D Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: Meni Rosenfeld on January 25, 2013, 10:43:44 AM Hope its better than the excruciatingly embarrassing ones of the past. this will be the first real one is the US right? Previous conferences are infamous for having been organized by people who have since gone into disrepute - NYC by Bruce Wagner, Prague with involvement from Bitcoin consultancy, London by Nefario and Bitcoin consultancy. But I think all of them were actually quite good (and the first real conference in US is definitely NYC Aug 2011).1. They have all been reasonably organized, and better with each conference. 2. The organization is just an excuse. It's an important excuse inasmuch as it's what brings people together, but it's actually meeting other people from the community that is important. And we've done plenty of that. Edit: The SAME material covered at these conferences can be found in: There's your problem, right there. You think conferences are about "material". The material is an excuse to get people to meet (and to get press coverage, too).1. this forum (free) 2. Bitcoin Magazine ($8.88...wow) 3. Google (free) 4. Youtube videos (if we're lucky...also Free) internet, skype, facebook, youtube, twitter, etc, etc, etc. != Meeting in person.Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: prezbo on January 25, 2013, 01:12:52 PM $300 entry fee to go to a conference? This smells like elitism. This is a pretty normal fee. If you're organizing a conference, you're lucky if the registration fees you collect as well as the vendor sponsorships are enough to pay the venue's 5 or 6 figure bill when it's all over. It's also not outrageous when you consider that the average person is already paying $500-$1500 to get there when you consider airfare, ground transportation, and hotel. If the conference were held in a public park, it wouldn't be $300, but it would also be so stupid as to not be worth traveling to, and the media would show up to laugh at us. The only way to call it elitism is to be oblivious to the economics of organizing a conference. It's totally normal for a conference venue to charge, oh, $25 a plate for every plate taken at a buffet line, or $5 for every soda taken from the courtesy table at the back of the room. Not kidding! That's how the hospitality industry works. The food is served as though it's free but it's totally not. The fee literally covers the cost of the venue. BTW, I just bought my ticket. I'll be driving out. In my Porsche with "Bitcoin" vanity license plate. Because I'm elitist like that and all. The SAME material covered at these conferences can be found in: 1. this forum (free) 2. Bitcoin Magazine ($8.88...wow) 3. Google (free) 4. Youtube videos (if we're lucky...also Free) There really isn't a point to pay for a total of $1500-$2500 for a 2.5 day conference just to get the same material you could with options 1, 2, and 3 listed above. Right the next point would be networking right? Well you can easily do that on this forum alone or on the internet, skype, facebook, youtube, twitter, etc, etc, etc. So should people pay $8.88 at most or pay a few thousand dollars to get the same material? Sounds like a waste of time and money as mentioned earlier in this thread. You people who plan to go and are organizing this conference are better using that money to further bitcoin, not have fancy conferences where you basically tout your LEET skillz in making tonz of moneyz. Bottom line, people are better off keeping their finances and conserving than attending a bitcoin conference. Just my 0.02 btc Smoothie ;D ;D ;D Conferences usually are about making new (business) connections, and that's something that's very difficult to put a price on. Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: The Fool on January 25, 2013, 02:41:25 PM You people who plan to go and are organizing this conference are better using that money to further bitcoin, not have fancy conferences where you basically tout your LEET skillz in making tonz of moneyz. Having a conference in fact is using money to promote Bitcoin. Quote Bottom line, people are better off keeping their finances and conserving than attending a bitcoin conference. Only in the same way looking at porn is a better way to enjoy sexuality than going out on dates. Your analogy can go that way as well. ;) Also, no harm intended. I hope the conference is enjoyable. Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: prezbo on January 25, 2013, 05:06:35 PM You people who plan to go and are organizing this conference are better using that money to further bitcoin, not have fancy conferences where you basically tout your LEET skillz in making tonz of moneyz. Having a conference in fact is using money to promote Bitcoin. But if people are paying for the foundation already shouldn't they be using that money to promote Bitcoin and put on a conference? Instead of them being greedy and looking for more money. They say they're a nonprofit organization, so this money will eventually be put into making bitcoin better... Anyway, nobody is preventing anyone from hosting their own conference that would be less expensive, so go for it! Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: SgtSpike on January 25, 2013, 05:30:49 PM You people who plan to go and are organizing this conference are better using that money to further bitcoin, not have fancy conferences where you basically tout your LEET skillz in making tonz of moneyz. Having a conference in fact is using money to promote Bitcoin. But if people are paying for the foundation already shouldn't they be using that money to promote Bitcoin and put on a conference? Instead of them being greedy and looking for more money. They say they're a nonprofit organization, so this money will eventually be put into making bitcoin better... Anyway, nobody is preventing anyone from hosting their own conference that would be less expensive, so go for it! They already brainwashed you, and you completely glanced over it, so I will put to you again, you pay a fee to them already why do they need $300 more dollars when they have so much, and they don't even give a discount or anything. But yet Gavin gets his pay day! And why does it matter that Gavin gets paid? What does that have to do with this conference? Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: prezbo on January 25, 2013, 05:30:53 PM They already brainwashed you, and you completely glanced over it, so I will put to you again, you pay a fee to them already why do they need $300 more dollars when they have so much, and they don't even give a discount or anything. But yet Gavin gets his pay day! No one brainwashed me, I'm not a member - but I did donate because I think developers need to get paid for what they're doing. Maybe they're raising money to be able to pay more developers, who knows.Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: SgtSpike on January 25, 2013, 05:52:44 PM You people who plan to go and are organizing this conference are better using that money to further bitcoin, not have fancy conferences where you basically tout your LEET skillz in making tonz of moneyz. Having a conference in fact is using money to promote Bitcoin. But if people are paying for the foundation already shouldn't they be using that money to promote Bitcoin and put on a conference? Instead of them being greedy and looking for more money. They say they're a nonprofit organization, so this money will eventually be put into making bitcoin better... Anyway, nobody is preventing anyone from hosting their own conference that would be less expensive, so go for it! They already brainwashed you, and you completely glanced over it, so I will put to you again, you pay a fee to them already why do they need $300 more dollars when they have so much, and they don't even give a discount or anything. But yet Gavin gets his pay day! And why does it matter that Gavin gets paid? What does that have to do with this conference? Well then they need a better PR because I have yet to see them do anything or promote anything. This is the there first event and it is $300 dollars, and they can't do a 20% or 50% for members, I think that is when they are horrible organization. Honestly I truly in my heart want to believe the foundation is good, but they make it so hard believe they really are, when multiple times they have yet to redeem themselves. I am just wanting to see the benefits which there are none obviously. I chalk it up to them being a new foundation. As they mature, I expect members will see more benefits, such as discounts at conferences, etc. FWIW, I am not a member and have no plans to become one at this point. It's too rich for my poor blood. ;) Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: DeathAndTaxes on January 25, 2013, 05:53:36 PM The detractors in this thread are sad and simply show how small they are. $300 for a conference cna be an amazing deal if it is well organized with good speakers. Free conference absolutely worthless (because there will still be airfare, hotel, etc) if it is poorly planned and thus a waste of time. How good will the foundation's first conference be? I don't know but the value is based on execution not a $300 entry fee. As IT events go, $300 for a conference is actually pretty low. Bitcoin is still small and conferences generally have high fixed costs. Maybe next year (or the following year) they can have multiple options and the fee will come down as it is amortized over more attendees and sponsors. I wouldn't be surprised that even at $300 per person the foundation loses money. However the PR, and press may be worth it in the long run and you got to start somewhere A solid conference in a real venue that doesn't make international press think Bitcoin is a couple of nerds hopelessly out of touch costs a lot more than most people realize.
Still when you compare it to say the embedded linux conference (11th year) the prices don't really seem out of line. http://events.linuxfoundation.org/events/embedded-linux-conference/register Quote Professional Registration Fee: US$550 Hobbyist Fee: US$100* Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: dacoinminster on January 25, 2013, 06:14:55 PM I just paid my $250 early-bird registration.
I have no idea what activities and speakers I paid $250 for, or why they asked me about dietary restrictions, but this is the first bitcoin conference in the U.S., and I wouldn't miss it! The official thread is here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=135407.0 Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: The Fool on January 25, 2013, 07:47:58 PM Quote Hobbyist Fee: US$100* This is what most of us would like to see. Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: The Fool on January 25, 2013, 07:50:40 PM Only in the same way looking at porn is a better way to enjoy sexuality than going out on dates. In smoothie's defense, paying people a large sum of money just to socialize is usually associated with prostitution. Your analogy can go that way as well. ;) Also, no harm intended. I hope the conference is enjoyable. No harm taken, the analogy just totally doesn't make sense and suggests a highly limited view of the world, or not a lot of forethought put into what you're saying. It makes as much sense as saying that becoming a parent is usually associated with prostitution. Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: DeathAndTaxes on January 25, 2013, 08:23:49 PM You missed the point. THERE ARE LARGE FIXED COSTS TO HOSTING A CONFERENCE. The Bitcoin conference is likely going to be smaller than the 11th annual Embedded Linux conference. Check back in 10 years likely the per person costs will be lower. Conferences are expensive to host. At $300 per person even with 1000 attendees the Foundation is unlikely to make more than a token profit.
Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: The Fool on January 25, 2013, 08:24:44 PM Quote Hobbyist Fee: US$100* This is what most of us would like to see. Cause according to DeathAndTaxes we are too poor and greedy to go (which he edited out of his statement) that is why it is only for the elitist of the bitcoin world. Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: Littleshop on January 25, 2013, 09:51:01 PM You missed the point. THERE ARE LARGE FIXED COSTS TO HOSTING A CONFERENCE. The Bitcoin conference is likely going to be smaller than the 11th annual Embedded Linux conference. Check back in 10 years likely the per person costs will be lower. Conferences are expensive to host. At $300 per person even with 1000 attendees the Foundation is unlikely to make more than a token profit. There is a bell curve to pricing that maximizes revenue (which varies per event and group of course). I can tell you that $300 a person is NOT the best price on that curve. I know a number of people who would go for $100 but at $300 excludes a great deal of the community. While there was a huge troll war about the NYC convention, that appeared to have the greatest turnout, brought together a huge number of people who formed ventures or worked together and had the most number of vendors. Pricing was much lower despite being in a more expensive city. While the convention could have used more space, raising the price to $100 would have EASILY covered that. One idea would be to break out some of the panel discussions and the meals as an option. Meals at considerable cost. Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: kjj on January 25, 2013, 10:10:25 PM My first thought was that DefCon is like $120 these days. But it has been around forever, is huge, and has massive corporate sponsorship (in the form of blackhat).
I should know within a couple of weeks whether or not I'm going. The sticky point for me isn't the admission cost, so much as scheduling. Oh, and a discount for foundation members would have been nice, even a modest one, but I'm a bit biased in that regard. Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: n8rwJeTt8TrrLKPa55eU on January 26, 2013, 12:18:12 AM Bought a ticket.
Living in a place where Bitcoin and monetary freedom are exotic concepts, $300 is well spent just for the psychological boost of being physically surrounded by hundreds of people who think the same way as I do. Almost by definition, most of the attendees and presenters should be interesting people: independent thinkers, enterpreneurs, scammers ;), etc. Based on quite a few tech & financial conferences I've attended in the past (both Bitcoin and non-Bitcoin), I'll predict that for anyone with a significant financial or ideological stake in Bitcoin's success, $300 is a bargain, and attendees should get much more than that $300 worth of value out of this event. Bitcointalk has a low signal-to-noise ratio, and the conference should provide a much more realistic picture of the (hopefully positive) state of the Bitcoin ecosystem. Last September on Bitcointalk, the mood was suicidal, defaults and scams were omnipresent, and the price had just plummeted. But one or two presentations and conversations at the London conference made it clear to me that the future was bright and the right move was to add BTC aggressively. Profits from those purchases easily covered the plane ticket, lodging, and all other attendance costs. For anyone investing or speculating in BTC, the sneak peeks that you can get at the conference regarding upcoming services, features, and business deals, is as close as you can get to insider information on the medium-term direction for the BTC price. Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: Littleshop on January 26, 2013, 12:30:51 AM Bought a ticket. Living in a place where Bitcoin and monetary freedom are exotic concepts, $300 is well spent just for the psychological boost of being physically surrounded by hundreds of people who think the same way as I do. Almost by definition, most of the attendees and presenters should be interesting people: independent thinkers, enterpreneurs, scammers ;), etc. Based on quite a few tech & financial conferences I've attended in the past (both Bitcoin and non-Bitcoin), I'll predict that for anyone with a significant financial or ideological stake in Bitcoin's success, $300 is a bargain, and attendees should get much more than that $300 worth of value out of this event. Bitcointalk has a low signal-to-noise ratio, and the conference should provide a much more realistic picture of the (hopefully positive) state of the Bitcoin ecosystem. Last September on Bitcointalk, the mood was suicidal, defaults and scams were omnipresent, and the price had just plummeted. But one or two presentations and conversations at the London conference made it clear to me that the future was bright and the right move was to add BTC aggressively. Profits from those purchases easily covered the plane ticket, lodging, and all other attendance costs. For anyone investing or speculating in BTC, the sneak peeks that you can get at the conference regarding upcoming services, features, and business deals, is as close as you can get to insider information on the medium-term direction for the BTC price. basically you described $300 to go to a place and talk about the forum, when you could just log on here and ask for people's skype (like I have done) and talk to them and have better discussions for free. To be honest no independent thinker would go to a conference js Sounds like you have not been to a conference before! Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: DeathAndTaxes on January 26, 2013, 12:51:09 AM basically you described $300 to go to a place and talk about the forum, when you could just log on here and ask for people's skype (like I have done) and talk to them and have better discussions for free. To be honest no independent thinker would go to a conference js May as well nobody ever go to Disneyland since most of the Disney movies are on the Pirate Bay anyway...Well Disneyland has been changed into a landmark of American society so watching a movie is very different from going to a landmark that has been around for very long time. Also the bitcoin conference is the same thing as the forum just that you see a face and hear a voice... Then simple solution ... don't go. You have no intention of joining the foundation and no intention on going to a bitcoin conference. If it serves no purpose then the price doesn't really matter does it. It would be just as pointless at $10,000 or $10. So don't go. Other people will. What exactly was your issue again? Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: DeathAndTaxes on January 26, 2013, 01:15:23 AM Wait you would pay money for something that was pointless. You said the conference was completely pointless as one could get everything there from forums. So if it was $50 you would pay for it knowing it was pointless?
As for the Foundation using foundation funds to pay for part of the conference? Most foundations don't do that. Not everyone joining or donating may be interested in a conference. The Linux foundation has something like 100,000 paid members and conferences they sponsor still have a cost. Nothing the foundation has done is out of the ordinary. If the foundation puts of a good conference it will be worth it even at $300. If they put on a bad one (and to date everyone conference has been just embarrassing) it won't be worth it even at $0. How good will this one be? I guess we will find out, I am willing to give them the opportunity (if schedule will allow it). Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: cypherdoc on January 26, 2013, 01:42:37 AM Hope its better than the excruciatingly embarrassing ones of the past. this will be the first real one is the US right? Previous conferences are infamous for having been organized by people who have since gone into disrepute - NYC by Bruce Wagner, Prague with involvement from Bitcoin consultancy, London by Nefario and Bitcoin consultancy. But I think all of them were actually quite good (and the first real conference in US is definitely NYC Aug 2011).1. They have all been reasonably organized, and better with each conference. 2. The organization is just an excuse. It's an important excuse inasmuch as it's what brings people together, but it's actually meeting other people from the community that is important. And we've done plenty of that. Edit: The SAME material covered at these conferences can be found in: There's your problem, right there. You think conferences are about "material". The material is an excuse to get people to meet (and to get press coverage, too).1. this forum (free) 2. Bitcoin Magazine ($8.88...wow) 3. Google (free) 4. Youtube videos (if we're lucky...also Free) internet, skype, facebook, youtube, twitter, etc, etc, etc. != Meeting in person.yes, unfortunately not understood by many here. shaking someone's hand, looking that person in the eye, expressing one's self with body language, and engaging in one-to-one conversation magically strips out most of the bullshit you get on all those internet channels. Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: BCB on January 26, 2013, 02:53:06 AM You people who plan to go and are organizing this conference are better using that money to further bitcoin, not have fancy conferences where you basically tout your LEET skillz in making tonz of moneyz. Having a conference in fact is using money to promote Bitcoin. Quote Bottom line, people are better off keeping their finances and conserving than attending a bitcoin conference. Only in the same way looking at porn is a better way to enjoy sexuality than going out on dates. And smoothie obviously knows about that. Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: cypherdoc on January 26, 2013, 03:55:43 AM yes, unfortunately not understood by many here. shaking someone's hand, looking that person in the eye, expressing one's self with body language, and engaging in one-to-one conversation magically strips out most of the bullshit you get on all those internet channels. I have closed many bitcoin deals on skype so please explain... just cause you don't shakes someone hand doesn't mean anything welcome to the 21st century its a matter of comfort level and percentages. some of us feel more comfortable assessing risk after having met somebody in person. it may be fine for you to enter highly risky business deals worth lots of money over Skype but not for me. Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: smoothie on January 26, 2013, 04:26:11 AM Hope its better than the excruciatingly embarrassing ones of the past. this will be the first real one is the US right? Previous conferences are infamous for having been organized by people who have since gone into disrepute - NYC by Bruce Wagner, Prague with involvement from Bitcoin consultancy, London by Nefario and Bitcoin consultancy. But I think all of them were actually quite good (and the first real conference in US is definitely NYC Aug 2011).1. They have all been reasonably organized, and better with each conference. 2. The organization is just an excuse. It's an important excuse inasmuch as it's what brings people together, but it's actually meeting other people from the community that is important. And we've done plenty of that. Edit: The SAME material covered at these conferences can be found in: There's your problem, right there. You think conferences are about "material". The material is an excuse to get people to meet (and to get press coverage, too).1. this forum (free) 2. Bitcoin Magazine ($8.88...wow) 3. Google (free) 4. Youtube videos (if we're lucky...also Free) internet, skype, facebook, youtube, twitter, etc, etc, etc. != Meeting in person.1. If I'm a normal bitcoin user I'm not going to the conference to get PRESS COVERAGE. Keep in mind it's not all about the big players in bitcoin....or is it? lol (if so, my point is proven). These conferences as Max Keiser kind of put it is to garner new users, not for the bitcoin ELITE to jerk each other off. We all know how that went with Nefario for example eh? lol (Pay $300+ for a conference to listen to a jackass talk who doesn't know what the word "Arbitrage" means all the while touting his leet skillz with GLBSE). 2. In order to successfully network with others one does not NEED to meet someone in person. That's why we have technology. I mean if that was the case that we overlooked technology why not just snail mail your wallet.dat file on a flash drive to the furthest most point from you in the world to transfer bitcoins? lol Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: Herodes on January 26, 2013, 04:28:26 AM I propose a competition for the conference: "Spot the fed"
Isn't that what they usually do at defcon ? Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: smoothie on January 26, 2013, 04:29:04 AM $300 entry fee to go to a conference? This smells like elitism. Conferences usually are about making new (business) connections, and that's something that's very difficult to put a price on. Okay then they should make it exclusive like how they kind of do with the bitcoin foundation. "pay us and you have a say"...."pay us more and you have even more of a say". Ohh and you can make new business connections via social media and what we call the internet. Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: smoothie on January 26, 2013, 04:34:10 AM You people who plan to go and are organizing this conference are better using that money to further bitcoin, not have fancy conferences where you basically tout your LEET skillz in making tonz of moneyz. Having a conference in fact is using money to promote Bitcoin. Quote Bottom line, people are better off keeping their finances and conserving than attending a bitcoin conference. Only in the same way looking at porn is a better way to enjoy sexuality than going out on dates. Okay right. "Let's take attendees monies to promote our businesses that deal in bitcoin"? I'm sure you all are there for the greater good of bitcoin and NOT to turn a profit some how. My second comment was for the average bitcoin users. You who have gazillions of bitcoins by all means go for it. And that is hardly an analogy when you don't take into account the entire market of bitcoin users to date. Not everyone has social skills (yes we are talking about many geeks) who prefer to keep to themselves and meet and network on the internet. Once again you left out the fact that not all people do what it is you think is "normal" to do in your pretty analogy. :D Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: cypherdoc on January 26, 2013, 04:35:09 AM yes, unfortunately not understood by many here. shaking someone's hand, looking that person in the eye, expressing one's self with body language, and engaging in one-to-one conversation magically strips out most of the bullshit you get on all those internet channels. I have closed many bitcoin deals on skype so please explain... just cause you don't shakes someone hand doesn't mean anything welcome to the 21st century its a matter of comfort level and percentages. some of us feel more comfortable assessing risk after having met somebody in person. it may be fine for you to enter highly risky business deals worth lots of money over Skype but not for me. That is where lawyers come into play ;) If you don't use any lawyers then I see your worry but honestly there is no reason every business deal that could make or break you isn't done with a lawyer in the bitcoin world. what i'm saying has nothing to do with lawyers. in fact, it shouldn't. they are probably the worst ones to rely solely upon to assess partnering up with another Bitcoiner as they have a vested interest in constructing a complex deal in terms of fees. no, the best person to assess the risk of a business partnership is you in a face to face meeting with the potential partner. i'm not talking about small stuff like most of the businesses around here; i'm talking about real businesses involving substantial amounts of money. integrity assessment requires multiple sources of input over time. Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: smoothie on January 26, 2013, 04:36:05 AM You people who plan to go and are organizing this conference are better using that money to further bitcoin, not have fancy conferences where you basically tout your LEET skillz in making tonz of moneyz. Having a conference in fact is using money to promote Bitcoin. Quote Bottom line, people are better off keeping their finances and conserving than attending a bitcoin conference. Only in the same way looking at porn is a better way to enjoy sexuality than going out on dates. Your analogy can go that way as well. ;) Also, no harm intended. I hope the conference is enjoyable. Dates = Prostitution to Casasius? lol Missed that part of the market in his statement as well. Perhaps he overlooked it. :D Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: smoothie on January 26, 2013, 04:37:06 AM You people who plan to go and are organizing this conference are better using that money to further bitcoin, not have fancy conferences where you basically tout your LEET skillz in making tonz of moneyz. Having a conference in fact is using money to promote Bitcoin. But if people are paying for the foundation already shouldn't they be using that money to promote Bitcoin and put on a conference? Instead of them being greedy and looking for more money. +1 the money the bitcoin foundation already has been collecting should be going to a conference. Then they can have free admission :D Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: smoothie on January 26, 2013, 04:38:56 AM You people who plan to go and are organizing this conference are better using that money to further bitcoin, not have fancy conferences where you basically tout your LEET skillz in making tonz of moneyz. Having a conference in fact is using money to promote Bitcoin. But if people are paying for the foundation already shouldn't they be using that money to promote Bitcoin and put on a conference? Instead of them being greedy and looking for more money. They say they're a nonprofit organization, so this money will eventually be put into making bitcoin better... Anyway, nobody is preventing anyone from hosting their own conference that would be less expensive, so go for it! They already brainwashed you, and you completely glanced over it, so I will put to you again, you pay a fee to them already why do they need $300 more dollars when they have so much, and they don't even give a discount or anything. But yet Gavin gets his pay day! My question is this: Why does a foundation have to pay Gavin? If they have to pay Gavin then that implies they need Gavin. Why would they need Gavin? Bitcoin doesn't need Gavin. Bitcoin doesn't even need Satoshi. Flawed model in my opinion. Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: smoothie on January 26, 2013, 04:44:29 AM The detractors in this thread are sad and simply show how small they are. $300 for a conference cna be an amazing deal if it is well organized with good speakers. Free conference absolutely worthless (because there will still be airfare, hotel, etc) if it is poorly planned and thus a waste of time. How good will the foundation's first conference be? I don't know but the value is based on execution not a $300 entry fee. As IT events go, $300 for a conference is actually pretty low. Bitcoin is still small and conferences generally have high fixed costs. Maybe next year (or the following year) they can have multiple options and the fee will come down as it is amortized over more attendees and sponsors. I wouldn't be surprised that even at $300 per person the foundation loses money. However the PR, and press may be worth it in the long run and you got to start somewhere A solid conference in a real venue that doesn't make international press think Bitcoin is a couple of nerds hopelessly out of touch costs a lot more than most people realize. Still when you compare it to say the embedded linux conference (11th year) the prices don't really seem out of line. http://events.linuxfoundation.org/events/embedded-linux-conference/register Quote Professional Registration Fee: US$550 Hobbyist Fee: US$100* It's not detracting if I am stating my opinion and looking at the facts. Weren't you not so long ago "detracting" one of the litecoin threads? Way to be a hypocrit eh? And you think I'm sad? You went out of your way to the Alt currencies subforum to "make a point". lol Don't you have more important things to do like promote bitcoin as you obviously seem so eager to evangelize it? Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: gweedo on January 26, 2013, 04:47:00 AM My question is this: Why does a foundation have to pay Gavin? If they have to pay Gavin then that implies they need Gavin. Why would they need Gavin? Bitcoin doesn't need Gavin. Bitcoin doesn't even need Satoshi. Flawed model in my opinion. I know FINALLY A SMART MAN IS STEPPING UP what I have realized when the foundation stated they need to pay Gavin! THANK YOU! I thought I was taking crazy pills for a second. Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: smoothie on January 26, 2013, 04:48:45 AM basically you described $300 to go to a place and talk about the forum, when you could just log on here and ask for people's skype (like I have done) and talk to them and have better discussions for free. To be honest no independent thinker would go to a conference js May as well nobody ever go to Disneyland since most of the Disney movies are on the Pirate Bay anyway... So now the analogy is that bitcoin conference is like a theme park? How about circus can we use that analogy? :D Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: smoothie on January 26, 2013, 04:51:22 AM basically you described $300 to go to a place and talk about the forum, when you could just log on here and ask for people's skype (like I have done) and talk to them and have better discussions for free. To be honest no independent thinker would go to a conference js May as well nobody ever go to Disneyland since most of the Disney movies are on the Pirate Bay anyway...Well Disneyland has been changed into a landmark of American society so watching a movie is very different from going to a landmark that has been around for very long time. Also the bitcoin conference is the same thing as the forum just that you see a face and hear a voice... Then simple solution ... don't go. You have no intention of joining the foundation and no intention on going to a bitcoin conference. If it serves no purpose then the price doesn't really matter does it. It would be just as pointless at $10,000 or $10. So don't go. Other people will. What exactly was your issue again? His point was getting people to think before they spend any more money on a possibly pointless conference for their sake. Might not be pointless if you're one of the "elitists". Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: smoothie on January 26, 2013, 04:54:46 AM Hope its better than the excruciatingly embarrassing ones of the past. this will be the first real one is the US right? Previous conferences are infamous for having been organized by people who have since gone into disrepute - NYC by Bruce Wagner, Prague with involvement from Bitcoin consultancy, London by Nefario and Bitcoin consultancy. But I think all of them were actually quite good (and the first real conference in US is definitely NYC Aug 2011).1. They have all been reasonably organized, and better with each conference. 2. The organization is just an excuse. It's an important excuse inasmuch as it's what brings people together, but it's actually meeting other people from the community that is important. And we've done plenty of that. Edit: The SAME material covered at these conferences can be found in: There's your problem, right there. You think conferences are about "material". The material is an excuse to get people to meet (and to get press coverage, too).1. this forum (free) 2. Bitcoin Magazine ($8.88...wow) 3. Google (free) 4. Youtube videos (if we're lucky...also Free) internet, skype, facebook, youtube, twitter, etc, etc, etc. != Meeting in person.yes, unfortunately not understood by many here. shaking someone's hand, looking that person in the eye, expressing one's self with body language, and engaging in one-to-one conversation magically strips out most of the bullshit you get on all those internet channels. that's funny you once again may have misjudged me Cypher. I understand the importance of meeting people in person when TRUST is needed. You forget, this is Bitcoin. No trust is needed. Hence irrelevant to need to go to a bitcoin conference unless you are one of the early adopters that just wants to increase the value of his stash he got for $0.005/BTC. Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: dree12 on January 26, 2013, 04:55:47 AM Hope its better than the excruciatingly embarrassing ones of the past. this will be the first real one is the US right? Previous conferences are infamous for having been organized by people who have since gone into disrepute - NYC by Bruce Wagner, Prague with involvement from Bitcoin consultancy, London by Nefario and Bitcoin consultancy. But I think all of them were actually quite good (and the first real conference in US is definitely NYC Aug 2011).1. They have all been reasonably organized, and better with each conference. 2. The organization is just an excuse. It's an important excuse inasmuch as it's what brings people together, but it's actually meeting other people from the community that is important. And we've done plenty of that. Edit: The SAME material covered at these conferences can be found in: There's your problem, right there. You think conferences are about "material". The material is an excuse to get people to meet (and to get press coverage, too).1. this forum (free) 2. Bitcoin Magazine ($8.88...wow) 3. Google (free) 4. Youtube videos (if we're lucky...also Free) internet, skype, facebook, youtube, twitter, etc, etc, etc. != Meeting in person.yes, unfortunately not understood by many here. shaking someone's hand, looking that person in the eye, expressing one's self with body language, and engaging in one-to-one conversation magically strips out most of the bullshit you get on all those internet channels. that's funny you once again may have misjudged me Cypher. I understand the importance of meeting people in person when TRUST is needed. You forget, this is Bitcoin. No trust is needed. Hence irrelevant to need to go to a bitcoin conference unless you are one of the early adopters that just wants to increase the value of his stash he got for $0.005/BTC. Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: smoothie on January 26, 2013, 04:56:05 AM You people who plan to go and are organizing this conference are better using that money to further bitcoin, not have fancy conferences where you basically tout your LEET skillz in making tonz of moneyz. Having a conference in fact is using money to promote Bitcoin. Quote Bottom line, people are better off keeping their finances and conserving than attending a bitcoin conference. Only in the same way looking at porn is a better way to enjoy sexuality than going out on dates. And smoothie obviously knows about that. LOL nice try. But once again you're wrong. I've probably gotten more pie in a week than you get in a lifetime! :D :D :D Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: smoothie on January 26, 2013, 05:00:52 AM Hope its better than the excruciatingly embarrassing ones of the past. this will be the first real one is the US right? Previous conferences are infamous for having been organized by people who have since gone into disrepute - NYC by Bruce Wagner, Prague with involvement from Bitcoin consultancy, London by Nefario and Bitcoin consultancy. But I think all of them were actually quite good (and the first real conference in US is definitely NYC Aug 2011).1. They have all been reasonably organized, and better with each conference. 2. The organization is just an excuse. It's an important excuse inasmuch as it's what brings people together, but it's actually meeting other people from the community that is important. And we've done plenty of that. Edit: The SAME material covered at these conferences can be found in: There's your problem, right there. You think conferences are about "material". The material is an excuse to get people to meet (and to get press coverage, too).1. this forum (free) 2. Bitcoin Magazine ($8.88...wow) 3. Google (free) 4. Youtube videos (if we're lucky...also Free) internet, skype, facebook, youtube, twitter, etc, etc, etc. != Meeting in person.yes, unfortunately not understood by many here. shaking someone's hand, looking that person in the eye, expressing one's self with body language, and engaging in one-to-one conversation magically strips out most of the bullshit you get on all those internet channels. that's funny you once again may have misjudged me Cypher. I understand the importance of meeting people in person when TRUST is needed. You forget, this is Bitcoin. No trust is needed. Hence irrelevant to need to go to a bitcoin conference unless you are one of the early adopters that just wants to increase the value of his stash he got for $0.005/BTC. Let me rephrase that "You don't need to trust a person or organization when it comes to the bitcoin network." Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: cypherdoc on January 26, 2013, 05:04:34 AM Hope its better than the excruciatingly embarrassing ones of the past. this will be the first real one is the US right? Previous conferences are infamous for having been organized by people who have since gone into disrepute - NYC by Bruce Wagner, Prague with involvement from Bitcoin consultancy, London by Nefario and Bitcoin consultancy. But I think all of them were actually quite good (and the first real conference in US is definitely NYC Aug 2011).1. They have all been reasonably organized, and better with each conference. 2. The organization is just an excuse. It's an important excuse inasmuch as it's what brings people together, but it's actually meeting other people from the community that is important. And we've done plenty of that. Edit: The SAME material covered at these conferences can be found in: There's your problem, right there. You think conferences are about "material". The material is an excuse to get people to meet (and to get press coverage, too).1. this forum (free) 2. Bitcoin Magazine ($8.88...wow) 3. Google (free) 4. Youtube videos (if we're lucky...also Free) internet, skype, facebook, youtube, twitter, etc, etc, etc. != Meeting in person.yes, unfortunately not understood by many here. shaking someone's hand, looking that person in the eye, expressing one's self with body language, and engaging in one-to-one conversation magically strips out most of the bullshit you get on all those internet channels. that's funny you once again may have misjudged me Cypher. I understand the importance of meeting people in person when TRUST is needed. You forget, this is Bitcoin. No trust is needed. Hence irrelevant to need to go to a bitcoin conference unless you are one of the early adopters that just wants to increase the value of his stash he got for $0.005/BTC. yes, investing in Bitcoin itself doesn't require trust. but investing in other ppl when forming business partnerships does. but lets get back to the point at hand. conferences can be very helpful at multiple levels and $300, unfortunately, is not an outrageous price. there is info to be found out speaking to ppl in corners that won't be found out in public forums like this. pm's, Skype and email can be insecure w/o the proper precautions as you know. plus, when you get alot of ppl together with like mindset, alot of creativity takes place and deals struck. it may sound old fashioned but that's how things work. otoh, i admit technology is changing things as we speak. Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: Phinnaeus Gage on January 26, 2013, 05:17:48 AM $300 entry fee to go to a conference? This smells like elitism. This is a pretty normal fee. If you're organizing a conference, you're lucky if the registration fees you collect as well as the vendor sponsorships are enough to pay the venue's 5 or 6 figure bill when it's all over. It's also not outrageous when you consider that the average person is already paying $500-$1500 to get there when you consider airfare, ground transportation, and hotel. If the conference were held in a public park, it wouldn't be $300, but it would also be so stupid as to not be worth traveling to, and the media would show up to laugh at us. The only way to call it elitism is to be oblivious to the economics of organizing a conference. It's totally normal for a conference venue to charge, oh, $25 a plate for every plate taken at a buffet line, or $5 for every soda taken from the courtesy table at the back of the room. Not kidding! That's how the hospitality industry works. The food is served as though it's free but it's totally not. The fee literally covers the cost of the venue. BTW, I just bought my ticket. I'll be driving out. In my Porsche with "Bitcoin" vanity license plate. Because I'm elitist like that and all. The SAME material covered at these conferences can be found in: 1. this forum (free) 2. Bitcoin Magazine ($8.88...wow) 3. Google (free) 4. Youtube videos (if we're lucky...also Free) There really isn't a point to pay for a total of $1500-$2500 for a 2.5 day conference just to get the same material you could with options 1, 2, and 3 listed above. Right the next point would be networking right? Well you can easily do that on this forum alone or on the internet, skype, facebook, youtube, twitter, etc, etc, etc. So should people pay $8.88 at most or pay a few thousand dollars to get the same material? Sounds like a waste of time and money as mentioned earlier in this thread. You people who plan to go and are organizing this conference are better using that money to further bitcoin, not have fancy conferences where you basically tout your LEET skillz in making tonz of moneyz. Bottom line, people are better off keeping their finances and conserving than attending a bitcoin conference. Just my 0.02 btc Smoothie ;D ;D ;D Conferences usually are about making new (business) connections, and that's something that's very difficult to put a price on. Akin to conducting business during a round of golf, oppose to doing it in some conference room or over the phone. BTW, is this practice still done, or was that so 1990's?(?)? I'm making plans to attend, and it'll cost me two to three grand. Note to self: Quit smokin' psy's shit. Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: smoothie on January 26, 2013, 05:33:31 AM Hope its better than the excruciatingly embarrassing ones of the past. this will be the first real one is the US right? Previous conferences are infamous for having been organized by people who have since gone into disrepute - NYC by Bruce Wagner, Prague with involvement from Bitcoin consultancy, London by Nefario and Bitcoin consultancy. But I think all of them were actually quite good (and the first real conference in US is definitely NYC Aug 2011).1. They have all been reasonably organized, and better with each conference. 2. The organization is just an excuse. It's an important excuse inasmuch as it's what brings people together, but it's actually meeting other people from the community that is important. And we've done plenty of that. Edit: The SAME material covered at these conferences can be found in: There's your problem, right there. You think conferences are about "material". The material is an excuse to get people to meet (and to get press coverage, too).1. this forum (free) 2. Bitcoin Magazine ($8.88...wow) 3. Google (free) 4. Youtube videos (if we're lucky...also Free) internet, skype, facebook, youtube, twitter, etc, etc, etc. != Meeting in person.yes, unfortunately not understood by many here. shaking someone's hand, looking that person in the eye, expressing one's self with body language, and engaging in one-to-one conversation magically strips out most of the bullshit you get on all those internet channels. that's funny you once again may have misjudged me Cypher. I understand the importance of meeting people in person when TRUST is needed. You forget, this is Bitcoin. No trust is needed. Hence irrelevant to need to go to a bitcoin conference unless you are one of the early adopters that just wants to increase the value of his stash he got for $0.005/BTC. yes, investing in Bitcoin itself doesn't require trust. but investing in other ppl when forming business partnerships does. but lets get back to the point at hand. conferences can be very helpful at multiple levels and $300, unfortunately, is not an outrageous price. there is info to be found out speaking to ppl in corners that won't be found out in public forums like this. pm's, Skype and email can be insecure w/o the proper precautions as you know. plus, when you get alot of ppl together with like mindset, alot of creativity takes place and deals struck. it may sound old fashioned but that's how things work. otoh, i admit technology is changing things as we speak. Cypher keep up okay? Price of conference admission $300. Price of airfare, lodging, food, .... > $300. So no it's not cheap. Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: smoothie on January 26, 2013, 06:08:23 AM You people who plan to go and are organizing this conference are better using that money to further bitcoin, not have fancy conferences where you basically tout your LEET skillz in making tonz of moneyz. Having a conference in fact is using money to promote Bitcoin. Quote Bottom line, people are better off keeping their finances and conserving than attending a bitcoin conference. Only in the same way looking at porn is a better way to enjoy sexuality than going out on dates. And smoothie obviously knows about that. LOL nice try. But once again you're wrong. I've probably gotten more pie in a week than you get in a lifetime! :D :D :D Probably, by definition, also means probably not. And for everyone who has gotten a total of greater than 168 hours of "pie" in their lifetime to date, there is zero possibility of your statement being true. Regardless, here you are touting your own game and yer LEET skillz in gettin' laid. Does that mean I too should now be telling you how to spend your own money? Or that your choice of women is too fancy, or perhaps not fancy enough? Or that you should be reserving your sexuality strictly for the purpose of procreation? I didn't think so. So... you know... don't go to the conference and all. Doesn't sound like you'll enjoy it anyway. Make sure to tell a naked chick about bitcoins for me though, every little bit counts. LOL you really sound butt hurt! I guess you now see my point about touting LEET skillz. ;D ;D ;D 168 hours = 10080 minutes. I highy doubt you've gotten with 10,080 pies at your rate of "stamina". trollface.jpg Good thing you've got bitcoin 10 minute blocks to over compensate for your shortcomings. :D :D :D Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: franky1 on January 26, 2013, 06:24:06 AM i think the point trying to be made in the last post was that bitcoin conferences are usually just "get together's" of people already in the community.
take the euro conference of 2011 and the london conference of 2012. there was not much outsider involvement, nor much media coverage. yet. if bitcoiners went to outsider conferences. EG going to technology conventions like CES, or the money2020 it will get more outsiders involved with bitcoin and help grow bitcoin more. bitcoin conferences are more like tea parties for the community. so they can meet up face to face with people they have only seen before as a forum avatar and username. great for networking with people and so i do hope the main emphasis is on making everyone's business known so that new collaborations / projects are made. and not just for the social tea party scene. Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: mitty on January 26, 2013, 06:57:56 AM The fact in itself that a Bitcoin conference is going to be held at a nice venue will most likely make the currency seem more legitimate to a lot of people.
$300 (actually $250 right now) is a very reasonable fee to attend a conference compared to the price of other professional conferences, especially considering the substantial costs involved in hosting the event. I personally don't think $300 + travel expenses (I'm in Rhode Island) + taking a day or two off work is worth it to attend the conference. I would probably think differently if I were more involved in Bitcoin and/or if I lived near San Jose. I also don't understand why people are against a Bitcoin conference. The Bitcoin foundation should encourage collaboration among the bitcoin community and a conference seems like a great way to do that. It's pretty obvious that the impact of real-life communication is much more than than of Internet-based communication. Just because you can communicate ideas via the Internet doesn't make the Internet the best medium for doing so; it's just the most convenient. I think having a conference is a great idea even though I won't be attending. If anything it'll give Bitcoin additional press coverage which certainly won't hurt the currency's path to the mainstream, and of course it'll bring together people who are serious enough about Bitcoin to pay for admission + associated fees. It's amusing that a topic about an official conference for a decentralized global currency has started deteriorating into an argument over frequency and duration of sexual activity... that in itself is proof that the Internet isn't always the best medium for meaningful discussion. Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: cypherdoc on January 26, 2013, 02:51:28 PM The fact in itself that a Bitcoin conference is going to be held at a nice venue will most likely make the currency seem more legitimate to a lot of people. $300 (actually $250 right now) is a very reasonable fee to attend a conference compared to the price of other professional conferences, especially considering the substantial costs involved in hosting the event. I personally don't think $300 + travel expenses (I'm in Rhode Island) + taking a day or two off work is worth it to attend the conference. I would probably think differently if I were more involved in Bitcoin and/or if I lived near San Jose. I also don't understand why people are against a Bitcoin conference. The Bitcoin foundation should encourage collaboration among the bitcoin community and a conference seems like a great way to do that. It's pretty obvious that the impact of real-life communication is much more than than of Internet-based communication. Just because you can communicate ideas via the Internet doesn't make the Internet the best medium for getting ideas across; it's just the most convenient. I think having a conference is a great idea even though I won't be attending. If anything it'll give Bitcoin additional press coverage which certainly won't hurt the currency's path to the mainstream, and of course it'll bring together people who are serious enough about Bitcoin to pay for admission + associated fees. It's amusing that a topic about an official conference for a decentralized global currency has started deteriorating into an argument over frequency and duration of sexual activity... that in itself is proof in itself that the Internet isn't always the best medium for meaningful discussion. This is such a great point. Internet communication clearly allows one to hide behind a computer screen and veer a meaningful discussion off into a troll fest. If you tried this at the conference you'd likely get punched in the face. Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: BCB on January 26, 2013, 02:57:52 PM Mitty
Great point. And idiots like smoothie wouldn't dare show his face and make the same inane comments in public. He adds no value to this board and he certainly adds no value to bitcoin. And he probably knows it which is why he continues to troll this and every other thread he comes across. Op you should just lock this thread now and the rest of us can enjoy thoughtful and intelligent conversation at the conference. Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: Meni Rosenfeld on January 26, 2013, 04:53:31 PM 1. If I'm a normal bitcoin user I'm not going to the conference to get PRESS COVERAGE. Keep in mind it's not all about the big players in bitcoin....or is it? lol (if so, my point is proven). These conferences as Max Keiser kind of put it is to garner new users, not for the bitcoin ELITE to jerk each other off. We all know how that went with Nefario for example eh? lol (Pay $300+ for a conference to listen to a jackass talk who doesn't know what the word "Arbitrage" means all the while touting his leet skillz with GLBSE). Read what I wrote. The organization/material is a way to:1. Get individual people to meet each other. 2. Get press coverage for Bitcoin. I didn't say anything about getting press coverage for individual people (that too plays a role for some people). Once again, the $250 fee is insignificant compared to the ~$3000 many people will have to pay for flights, hotels and time. The conference is for people who are willing to pay the latter, call it elitism if you want. 2. In order to successfully network with others one does not NEED to meet someone in person. That's why we have technology. I mean if that was the case that we overlooked technology why not just snail mail your wallet.dat file on a flash drive to the furthest most point from you in the world to transfer bitcoins? lol And yet snail mail still exists, and it's not going away any time soon. Some things you can send over email, some you can't.Of course you can do stuff without meeting people, but you can do more and better with meeting them. It's another tool in your arsenal which complements the others. While there was a huge troll war about the NYC convention, that appeared to have the greatest turnout That's factually incorrect, NYC had the smallest turnout by a large gap.Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: BCB on January 26, 2013, 06:00:24 PM Meni,
Whe do you bother responding to these idiots. Buy the way. Thanks for that recent, short simple presentation on mining. Very clear and helpful for the uninitiated. Looking forward to meeting you at the conference. (are you presenting??). Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: BCB on January 26, 2013, 06:01:48 PM Death and Taxes
Are you presenting at the conference. I think if you cared to share you could present a very unique perspective based on your experience thus far. Or at least you should sit on a panel. Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: Meni Rosenfeld on January 26, 2013, 06:34:32 PM Whe do you bother responding to these idiots. Duty calls (http://xkcd.com/386/).Seriously though I prefer to give people a chance and wait a bit before disengaging. Buy the way. Thanks for that recent, short simple presentation on mining. Very clear and helpful for the uninitiated. Thanks. I've been meaning to give such a presentation for a while, eventually I wrote it for the occasion of the Tel Aviv Bitcoin Meetup January 2013 (http://www.meetup.com/bitcoin-il/events/97068362/).Looking forward to meeting you at the conference. (are you presenting??). I hope so.Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: The Fool on January 26, 2013, 06:49:31 PM My sincerest apologies for my crude comments in this thread. I hope the conference is very productive.
Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: BCB on January 26, 2013, 07:10:34 PM Apology accepted.
You can be sure we'll all report back here. Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: cypherdoc on January 26, 2013, 07:24:16 PM Meni, Whe do you bother responding to these idiots. Buy the way. Thanks for that recent, short simple presentation on mining. Very clear and helpful for the uninitiated. Looking forward to meeting you at the conference. (are you presenting??). yes, i liked the mining presentation as well. learned another applicable word to Bitcoin to help describe it: "Synchronization". Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: Meni Rosenfeld on January 26, 2013, 07:37:02 PM Meni, Whe do you bother responding to these idiots. Buy the way. Thanks for that recent, short simple presentation on mining. Very clear and helpful for the uninitiated. Looking forward to meeting you at the conference. (are you presenting??). yes, i liked the mining presentation as well. learned another applicable word to Bitcoin to help describe it: "Synchronization". Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: BCB on January 26, 2013, 07:55:41 PM With Bitcoin, PoW acts as a synchronization signal all nodes can observe, setting an ordered history they can agree on. Now write that in laymen's terms... Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: gweedo on January 26, 2013, 07:55:48 PM Mitty Great point. And idiots like smoothie wouldn't dare show his face and make the same inane comments in public. He adds no value to this board and he certainly adds no value to bitcoin. And he probably knows it which is why he continues to troll this and every other thread he comes across. Op you should just lock this thread now and the rest of us can enjoy thoughtful and intelligent conversation at the conference. I love how when people disagree with someone or a thing, they are instantly labeled a troll or an idiot. Dude like seriously we shown our points and they are not spammy or trolling one bit. Actually Casascius was being a troll, and starting saying shit about porn which had no baring on this thread. Sorry we disagree, we forget this a forum and if you don't suck the dick of foundation or pro bitcoin events, your a troll. This forum is a bunch of elitist and these are the people that will fail and hinder bitcoin's growth into mainstream world. Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: smoothie on January 26, 2013, 07:56:34 PM Death and Taxes Are you presenting at the conference. I think if you cared to share you could present a very unique perspective based on your experience thus far. Or at least you should sit on a panel. What would he be presenting? "I buy bitcoins at cheaper than the market price and I sell them above the market price. Do what I do and copy my LEET skillz" WOW :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: BCB on January 26, 2013, 08:02:02 PM Mitty Great point. And idiots like smoothie wouldn't dare show his face and make the same inane comments in public. He adds no value to this board and he certainly adds no value to bitcoin. And he probably knows it which is why he continues to troll this and every other thread he comes across. Op you should just lock this thread now and the rest of us can enjoy thoughtful and intelligent conversation at the conference. I love how when people disagree with someone or a thing, they are instantly labeled a troll or an idiot. Dude like seriously we shown our points and they are not spammy or trolling one bit. Actually Casascius was being a troll, and starting saying shit about porn which had no baring on this thread. Sorry we disagree, we forget this a forum and if you don't suck the dick of foundation or pro bitcoin events, your a troll. This forum is a bunch of elitist and these are the people that will fail and hinder bitcoin's growth into mainstream world. gweedo, It's ok to disagree, real "debates" are the best part of this forum. Unfortunately when you "disagree" it comes off and very dismissive and combative. Or maybe first impressions really don't wear off. (Do you remember when I posted that I was not entering my submission in the MintChip challange. You went all road rage on me.) But frankly my comments were specifically directed at Smoothie. Notice his dark orange ignore button and every thread he contributes essentially becomes a train wreck. (smoothie, the depth of your ignorance obviously knows no bounds) Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: smoothie on January 26, 2013, 08:04:20 PM Mitty Great point. And idiots like smoothie wouldn't dare show his face and make the same inane comments in public. He adds no value to this board and he certainly adds no value to bitcoin. And he probably knows it which is why he continues to troll this and every other thread he comes across. Op you should just lock this thread now and the rest of us can enjoy thoughtful and intelligent conversation at the conference. 1. Good job not pointing out that Casascius was the source of the trolling in this thread. But because he agrees with you, he is not a "TROLL" right? lol 2. Obviously i'm not going to pay $300 plus the thousands of $'s for all other expenses to go to a conference to see guys like you and Casascius jerk each other off and then call people trolls because they don't agree with you? I've made my points pretty clear and obviously that must have struck a nerve given how BUTT HURT Casascius got half-way through the thread, then got owned/bitch slapped when he attempted to be witty in a troll-like way. 3. When you say "Thoughtful" and "Intelligent", it really means "cock suck" and "mind fuck". 4. Aww "idiot"? Sticks and stonez... :D :D :D Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: BCB on January 26, 2013, 08:09:42 PM Guido,
I rest my case. Smoothie. I like Casascius. He contributes to bitcoin and to this community. I don't like you. I don't care how much pie you get. You've never had anything to contribute to bitcoin nor this forum except your endless trolling. (Frankly I'm surprised you even have internet - unless you sit in a starbucks all day). Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: smoothie on January 26, 2013, 08:10:33 PM Mitty Great point. And idiots like smoothie wouldn't dare show his face and make the same inane comments in public. He adds no value to this board and he certainly adds no value to bitcoin. And he probably knows it which is why he continues to troll this and every other thread he comes across. Op you should just lock this thread now and the rest of us can enjoy thoughtful and intelligent conversation at the conference. I love how when people disagree with someone or a thing, they are instantly labeled a troll or an idiot. Dude like seriously we shown our points and they are not spammy or trolling one bit. Actually Casascius was being a troll, and starting saying shit about porn which had no baring on this thread. Sorry we disagree, we forget this a forum and if you don't suck the dick of foundation or pro bitcoin events, your a troll. This forum is a bunch of elitist and these are the people that will fail and hinder bitcoin's growth into mainstream world. gweedo, It's ok to disagree, real "debates" are the best part of this forum. Unfortunately when you "disagree" it comes off and very dismissive and combative. Or maybe first impressions really don't wear off. (Do you remember when I posted that I was not entering my submission in the MintChip challange. You went all road rage on me.) But frankly my comments were specifically directed at Smoothie. Notice his dark orange ignore button and every thread he contributes essentially becomes a train wreck. (smoothie, the depth of your ignorance obviously knows no bounds) And who judges what a real debate is? You? LOL! Was I calling anyone names when I started making my point? No. My ignore button means nothing. All it means is a bunch of pussies can't take what I have to say, just like you are crying because of what I said that you don't like to hear. You are welcome to hit it anytime! LOL! Ignorance? Right I'm like one of the few people on this forum that wasn't scammed by: Bitcoinica PirateAt40/BTCST GLBSE/Nefario Goat/PPT operators BFL (and their ridiculous pre-order wait time) MyBitcoin.com Ignorance is just a word. Just like idiot is just a word. It really means nothing if you can't truly apply it to your point. Good job buddy! lol! Hope you have a great time at your theme park-like circus conference. ;D ;D ;D Your Best Friend, Smoothie Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: BCB on January 26, 2013, 08:17:23 PM Guido, La la la la la la la la la la la
(smoothie, the bitcoin gadfly - thank you for your service) What I would really like to see is Philip Moustakis, or since he is involved in an active investigation, someone else from the US Securities and Exchange Commission at the conference talking about bitcoin securities. I would also like to hear an update of: The Bitcoinica Litigation The Dwolla/TradeHill Litigation And a recap of: The Pirateat40/PPT fiasco and The GLBSE meltdown. I think analyzing how these things now with a little hindsight when down will assist us in forging the path forward. Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: smoothie on January 26, 2013, 08:20:04 PM Guido, I rest my case. Smoothie. I like Casascius. He contributes to bitcoin and to this community. I don't like you. I don't care how much pie you get. You've never had anything to contribute to bitcoin nor this forum except your endless trolling. (Frankly I'm surprised you even have internet - unless you sit in a starbucks all day). BCB, You love Casascius and would jerk him off i'm sure. That's fine and between you two. Also you don't have to like me as I don't have to abide by your guidelines for a debate. I provide entertainment on these forums. I've had quite a few actually thank me for the funny responses and humor that results in their entertainment. Oh noes he did the internet joke. Damn that was brutal. Can't recover from that one. Trollface.jpg Continue on jerking off others who agree with you and labeling people who disagree with you as an idiot and troll. Gosh i'm curious if you had/have a gf/wife and she disagrees which results in you calling her an idiot and troll. LOL that would be brutal. You've been outed as obviously a biased individual on the matter because of your reaction to anyone who disagrees with you. Join the club. There will be a whole slew of them at the conference...and it's ONLY $300.00 to get in. Act fast! This deal won't last long. ;D ;D ;D Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: smoothie on January 26, 2013, 08:20:43 PM Guido, I rest my case. Smoothie. I like Casascius. He contributes to bitcoin and to this community. I don't like you. I don't care how much pie you get. You've never had anything to contribute to bitcoin nor this forum except your endless trolling. (Frankly I'm surprised you even have internet - unless you sit in a starbucks all day). And you just proved smoothie's point you like Casacius so his trolling is ignored by you. What ignorances is found in this post right here. +$300 lol Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: BCB on January 26, 2013, 08:22:46 PM I would also like to hear Mike Hearn Present again. Always interesting.
Is piuk attending? Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: smoothie on January 26, 2013, 08:23:21 PM Guido, I rest my case. Smoothie. I like Casascius. He contributes to bitcoin and to this community. I don't like you. I don't care how much pie you get. You've never had anything to contribute to bitcoin nor this forum except your endless trolling. (Frankly I'm surprised you even have internet - unless you sit in a starbucks all day). And you just proved smoothie's point you like Casacius so his trolling is ignored by you. What ignorances is found in this post right here. Guido, La la la la la la la la la la la LOL Point proven. Keep jerking off. Now now it's time to let the adults talk okay? You go play over there in your little sandbox. ;D ;D ;D Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: smoothie on January 26, 2013, 08:25:56 PM I would also like to jerk off Casascius again. Always interesting. Is cock attending? Now THIS ^ is trolling. :P...now you can cry. LOL! Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: The Fool on January 26, 2013, 10:55:14 PM I would also like to hear Mike Hearn Present again. Always interesting. I don't know if the organizers of this conference take kindly to Blockchain.info. Is piuk attending? Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: cypherdoc on January 26, 2013, 11:17:20 PM I would also like to hear Mike Hearn Present again. Always interesting. I don't know if the organizers of this conference take kindly to Blockchain.info. Is piuk attending? why? Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: The Fool on January 27, 2013, 01:17:56 AM I would also like to hear Mike Hearn Present again. Always interesting. I don't know if the organizers of this conference take kindly to Blockchain.info. Is piuk attending? why? It's not mentioned on the bitcoin.org clients page for one, even though it's a independent client (just in javascript) and has a stand-alone, verifiable extension. Two, I've read a lot of posts implying they just don't like it being a popular way to use bitcoin. Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: DeathAndTaxes on January 27, 2013, 03:08:58 AM Who is "they"?
Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: Herodes on January 27, 2013, 04:41:16 AM Is there any concerted effort to send out invitations to relevant people outside the bitcoin community ?
Title: Re: Just bought my ticket for Bitcoin 2013 in San Jose! Post by: Phinnaeus Gage on January 27, 2013, 09:55:17 PM Approximately, how many people attended the last three conferences, and what's the expected turnout for Bitcoin2013 in San Jose?
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